A CHEMTAX‐derived phytoplankton community structure during 12‐year observations in the Gulf of Naples (LTER‐MC)

The rapid response of phytoplankton communities to environmental changes makes this compartment one the most important biological variable consider in dealing with ecology and trophodynamic coastal areas, especially relation ongoing climate increased human pressures. In last 30 years, use chemotaxonomy has improved capability detect community composition terms chemofunctional groups, for small size species requiring specific expertise techniques, as well time-consuming observation light microscope. study, temporal variability chemotaxonomic functional groups been investigated surface waters a LTER station Gulf Naples over 12-year weekly sampling activities (2003–2015). Data reveal increasing trends percentage contribution diatoms, prasinophytes, cryptophytes total biomass, while other show decreasing trend. Nevertheless, strong differences intervals periodicity each group have emerged, both timescale strength time, implying that dynamics were not stationary time they different relationships variability. Our results contribute enrich scientific knowledge on site underline importance monitoring tool marine systems.